Just like a lot of great rock bands from the 1960s and 70s did not survive the cultural shifts of the 1980s, so do many great video game franchises fall out of favor when new generations come about. This list focuses primarily on PS2 series that did not continue long after the PS3 showed up.
Some of these never received games on the PS3 or had a game come out that either was unsuccessful or ended up being the last in the series. With only a couple of exceptions, all of these franchises started on the PS2. If they didn't, they still came to prominence on Sony's legendary console.
10 TimeSplitters
The first TimeSplitters was a PS2 launch title and remains exclusive to the console to this day. The trilogy was completed during the same generation. When the PS3 came around, developer Free Radical made the PS3 exclusive Haze, which flopped and received poor reviews. While TimeSplitters 4 was in the early stages of development, the developer never found a publisher. The series is finally coming back, however, with a new title recently announced to be in development.
9 Sly Cooper
Sucker Punch Productions made three Sly Cooper games for the PS2. The platformer distinguished itself from its peers in the genre by including numerous stealth elements. On the PS3 the developer made Infamous, and another team handled the Sly Cooper: Thieves In Time. No further sequels or revivals have even been mentioned, however. Recently, Sucker Punch made the critically acclaimed Ghost of Tsushima.
8 Jak And Daxter
After three Crash Bandicoot games on the original PlayStation, Naughty Dog left its character behind to make the Jak and Daxter series on the PS2.
The first game was a more traditional 3D platformer and the sequels added open-world elements and firearms combat. Similar to Crash Bandicoot, they also left this series behind when the PS3 came out and started the Uncharted series. Fans are still clamoring for the series to make a return.
7 The Getaway
The Getaway was a significantly more grounded and European response to Grand Theft Auto. The two games aimed for realism and used a plot inspired by the London crime films from director Guy Ritchie. There was a third installment planned for the PS3, but it was ultimately cancelled. Developer London Studio has recently been working in the VR space, most recently making the acclaimed Blood and Truth. With technology where it is today, a realistic open-world game set in the modern times could be impressive.
6 SOCOM U.S. Navy Seals
Between 2002 and 2011 ten games in the SOCOM series were released for the PS2, PSP, and PS3. The earlier entries were popular among online multiplayer fans, but having to compete with juggernauts like Call of Duty later in the decade proved too much for the franchise. SOCOM 4 came out in 2011 and series developer Zipper Interactive closed down just a year later. With tactical shooters like Rainbow Six Siege becoming extremely popular, perhaps there is a place for SOCOM in the modern gaming landscape.
5 Tony Hawk's Pro Skater
While the first two Tony Hawk's Pro Skater games came out on the PS1, The PS2 saw five entries before the PS3 came out and seven in total. Many of what fans consider the best entries released on Sony's second console. The first Tony Hawk for next generation, Project 8, was still a fine addition to the franchise.
The year afterwards saw Tony Hawk's Proving Ground, which changed a lot about the gameplay and was ultimately less enjoyable. Afterwards the series released several flops and attempted revivals. The series finally returned to its glory days in 2020 with the remakes of the first two games.
4 Onimusha
Capcom had a lot of great action games during the PS2 era, and Onimusha was one of the most notable among them. While its contemporary Devil May Cry managed to have a successful entry on the PS3, no further Onimusha games came out after the PS3 came out. In 2019 a remaster of the first game came out, but no word about a sequel or revival has come about. It's not like the series is not popular, since it has sold over 8 million copies.
3 Dark Cloud
There were two Dark Cloud games for the PS2 from developer Level-5. After Dark Cloud 2, which was called Dark Chronicle in other territories, the developer moved on to different projects. Other notable franchises under the developer's name include Ni no Kuni and Professor Layton. Fans want a Dark Cloud 3 and one was rumored to be in development for the PS3 many years ago, but the developer has more recently said the likelihood of the series' continuation is low.
2 Burnout
The first two Burnout games were fun, but it was not until the third game when the series truly achieved divine racing game goodness. The only true next-gen entry was Burnout: Paradise, which is a fantastic open-world racer. Developer Criterion was moved to the Need for Speed franchise and made several acclaimed games in the series, but fans still want the arcade action of Burnout. Dangerous Driving, which is receiving a sequel in the future, is considered the spiritual successor to Burnout.
1 Silent Hill
Silent Hill 2 and 3 are often considered the highlight of the franchise. The PS3 and Nintendo Wii saw several games in the franchise, but they did not reach anywhere near the same level of acclaim as Silent Hill 2. Fans were stoked for Silent Hills, which was to be a collaboration between Hideo Kojima and Guillermo del Toro, but the project was cancelled after publisher Konami went through serious restructuring and Hideo Kojima left to form his own studio.